Nautilus Project

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D

Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan
Nautilus Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-2

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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-3

Evaluating fuel, vegetation and disturbance dynamics using the irregular uneven-aged silvicultural system 

within different forest structure stages on the Black Hills Experimental Forest

Principal Investigators: Theresa B. Jain and Russell T. Graham, Forest and Woodlands Research Program, Rocky 

Mountain Research Station, Moscow, Idaho

Introduction

Study Objectives 

Experimental forests and ranges are places that are designated for long-term and manipulative research of 

forest and range vegetation (Adams et al. 2004), thus they are well suited to evaluate a variety of silviculture 

techniques. By using an experimental forest, both the short- and long-term silvicultural, managerial, and 

ecological effects of treatments can be studied, displayed, and preserved. Black Hills Experimental Forest (BHEF) 

is located 20 miles northwest of Rapid City, South Dakota and is 3,500 acres in size representing the ponderosa 

pine cover type near the center of the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF). Research studies established on BHEF 

are designed to provide abundant current and future research opportunities. All activities conducted on BHEF 

are for research purposes, including vegetation manipulation, road maintenance and construction, and fire 

suppression.

The uneven-aged study has two objectives. The first is to evaluate the application of the irregular or free 

selection silvicultural system in a very productive ponderosa pine forest within different forest structural stages 

currently in place on BHEF (Graham and Jain 2005). The second is to evaluate a variety of ecological effects of 

the forest conditions created by these silvicultural systems. For example, this study will document the impact 

the treatments associated with each silvicultural system have on creating and maintaining forest conditions that 

are resilient to insect, disease, and wildfire within a changing climate. In addition, because this silvicultural 

system is fully replicated using a scientific design, future research opportunities exists for wildlife, hydrology, or 

other research purposes.

Evaluating the irregular selection silviculture systems, is not only being conducted on BHEF, but rather is one of a 

series of replicated studies which have been installed on the Priest River Experimental Forest, Deception Creek 

Experimental Forest and Boise Basin Experimental Forest. This multi-location study is to insure that the 

applicability of results is appropriate for a variety of forest conditions and types.

Under the proposed vegetation treatments, harvesting of trees will provide a variety of overstory tree canopy 

cover. Slash created through these treatments would be managed by various means such as under burning, 

jackpot burning, mechanized piling, or through mastication. After the stands have been treated, the 

establishment and development of understory vegetation would be studied and quantified using research 

protocols (outlined within individual study plans). Other ecosystem components including nutrient cycling, 

vegetation dynamics, species composition, gap size, shape and orientation of openings and insect and disease 

activity would be evaluated as a function of the different vegetation treatments. 

Background

There are several issues concerning forest management in the Black Hills. A large portion of the forests are rated 

as having medium to high risk of mountain beetle infestation and are currently experiencing a large scale 

infestation. Due to the nature of the growth and development of Black Hills ponderosa pine forests, these areas 

tend to develop continuous canopy and abundant regeneration that were historically diversified through fire. 

Much of the Black Hills, because of its high recreation value, has substantial amounts of wildland urban interface

(WUI) requiring continuous fire suppression and also limits the applicability for using prescribed fire as a 

dominant tool for creating diversity in crown and surface fuels. Maintaining wildlife habitat for a variety of 

species is also a major value placed on the Black Hills. Addressing these issues in an integrated fashion offers 
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-4

both challenges and complexity to forest management. The objective of this study is to develop, implement, and 

evaluate a variety of management activities designed to integrate these many issues at multiple spatial scales. 

One such technique that will be tested at BHEF is an approach developed by Graham and Jain (2005) which 

attempts to balance management objectives and stakeholder values within an ecological context, resulting in 

the development of the irregular (or free) selection silvicultural system. 

The implementation of irregular selection concepts was tested in a study that was installed on the moist mixed 

conifer forests at Priest River Experimental Forest (PREF) beginning in 2004 (Jain et al. 2008). However, these 

results, if only applied in this one location, have limited applicability to other landscapes and places. To 

understand the applicability of results, similar studies need testing in other locations. Therefore, the study 

located at BHEF is a replication of the concepts used at PREF; however, because BHEF is a dry forest a different 

approach was used in developing the irregular selection within the ecological, social, and economic context of 

the Black Hills. Moreover, the research will compliment a similar study on the Boise Basin Experimental Forest

which is also a dry mixed conifer/ponderosa pine forest.

Several elements will be measured and statistically evaluated based on forest conditions created by these 

silvicultural systems. Long-term ecological elements include evaluating whether the silvicultural system favors 

forest compositions and structures that are more resilient and resistant to native and introduced disturbances 

(regeneration hypotheses). In the Black Hills, this will focus on the manipulation and the influence of large tree 

density and regeneration establishment of ponderosa pine that create conditions that favor wildlife habitat, 

insect resilience, and fire behavior and severity.

To address the regeneration capacity of ponderosa pine we will develop thresholds based on methods and 

concepts presented by Jain et al. (2002, 2004) that were developed for western white pine. We will evaluate the 

regeneration establishment and abundance as a function of different canopy openings created by the harvest. 

For altering potential fire behavior and the burn severity it might cause we want to introduce heterogeneity 

within the vegetation (fuels) on the Forest (e.g. vegetation composition and structure, surface and ground fuel 

composition, structure, and distribution) (fuel dynamics hypotheses). Therefore, if a fire were to occur, the 

pattern of tree and soil post-fire environments would hypothetically also be heterogeneous. Evaluation of this 

will be conducted through simulation models and through data collection and evaluation (the methodology 

currently being developed and evaluated at PREF) (landscape fuel dynamics hypothesis) (Jain et al. 2008). 

Although the influence of climate change in forests is uncertain and long-term, we hypothesize that insect and 

disease may become more active. Thus, survival, growth, and abundance of ponderosa pine and subsequent 

beetle infestation, but also other species such as quaking aspen, birch and other surface vegetation within 

harvested sites will be used as indicators of insect resilience within the context of climate change (disease and 

insect hypotheses). Wildlife habitat attributes will include forest structures that favor goshawk foraging area or 

value of hiding cover for deer and elk. 

This will be a long-term study (from decades to possibly centuries); therefore, the locations of sampling points 

will be recorded using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and data will be archived when the Principal 

Investigators either retire or leave. Therefore, future research opportunities will be maintained. Although not 

directly addressed in this study plan, other research studies are being developed to address soil effects from 

harvest such as long-term soil productivity, insects, fuel treatment longevity, and wildlife habitat. 

Current Condition

The forests on the BHEF have abundant ponderosa pine in various stages of development with small intrusions 

of quacking aspen with meadows intermixed throughout the forest that contain some white spruce. Past 

studies have created a diversity of forest structures ranging from small openings (< 1 acre) to an occasional 5 

acre opening that now contains an overabundance of ponderosa pine saplings. The remaining forest has a 

diversity of structures ranging from sites that contain multi-storied canopies with an abundance of ponderosa 
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-5

pine to sites that have complete canopy closure with only a needle mat in the understory. Many of the sites 

that contain complete canopy closure are experiencing beetle infestations and in its current state will 

experience large amounts of mortality.

Desired Future Condition and Long-term Hypothesis

The desired forest condition within the study area is to insure there is a representation of all the potential forest 

species and structures, and with emphasis on increasing quaking aspen where appropriate. The techniques, 

methods and evaluation of the distribution, abundance and patch size of the forest structures will be a primary 

research focus in relation to beetle infestation, fuel heterogeneity at all spatial scales from 0.02 – 3,500 acres 

(short- and long-term hypothesis 2).

Methods 

Study Area 

The study is being conducted throughout the entire Experimental Forest (Fig. 1). 

Irregular Selection Concepts Used in Developing Study Design

Irregular selection combines basics from both even-aged and uneven-aged systems and can be used to produce 

a variety of forest compositions and structures (Graham and Jain 2005, Graham et al. 2007, Nyland 2002). 

Rather than only emphasizing trees, the system includes snags, decadence, understory vegetation, down wood, 

interspersion of structural stages, groups of trees with interlocking crowns, and openings of sufficient size to 

insure tree establishment. It is a multi-entry selection system, which includes elements inherent to patch and 

strip clearcutting, group-selection, shelterwood, seed-tree, and individual-tree selection systems. This includes 

the full array of site preparation, seedling establishment, and intermediate treatments available. Applying 

adaptive management is critical to using the irregular selection system. As the term “irregular” implies, the 

frequency, kind, intensity, and timing of treatments is dependent upon stand development and how the current 

forest and stand conditions fulfill the guiding vision. A “vision” (research objectives) describes a desirable set of 

short- and long-term forest and stand conditions over multiple spatial scales (canopy gaps to landscapes) and 

frames the treatments and their implementation (Graham and Jain 2005, Graham et al. 2007). 

Heterogeneity in composition and structure is a key component of the objectives, which we will use to guide our 

irregular selections system. The advent of bark beetle infestation combined with the nature of the growth and 

development of these forests will guide the placement and distribution of patches; tree canopy densities will be 

highly variable in order to minimize edge effect and create conditions that favor successful regeneration (e.g.

feathering of the edges). Because BHEF is dominated by ponderosa pine with hardwoods growing in as 

intrusions, there will be single species to multiple species groups and clumps of trees where they occur 

naturally; we will maintain this character by avoiding the creation of uniformly geometrically shaped openings. 

Such highly variable forest conditions can be subjected to isolated wind, snow, disease, and insect disturbances. 

These endemic disturbances will contribute to important forest structures such as snags, decadence, and down 

wood recruitment.

The application of the silvicultural system combined with the productivity of the Black Hills forests should create 

highly variable canopy densities resulting in a fine-scale (0.12 acres) mosaic of ground- and mid-level vegetation, 

as well as surface organic materials (i.e., abundant surface and ladder fuels). Similar to treating the high canopy 

structures, we will use irregular selection and activity fuels and slash treatments to treat ground and mid-level 

structures to create a diversity of canopy cover, surface vegetation composition and structure, coarse woody 

debris amounts and structure, and a variety of forest floor conditions. Within these conditions, we expect 

abundant natural regeneration of forbs and ponderosa pine. This ground level mosaic would develop in 

response to the wide range of operational environments reflected in this first entry of a selection system. 

Depending on the locale, we expect groups and clumps of young forest to develop with numerous saplings (100s 
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-6

to 1000s) intermixed with an herbaceous and grass understory. Within the sapling component (up to 30 years of 

age), we would determine whether a weeding, cleaning, or both would be needed to favor the development of 

ponderosa pine and aspen (Graham 1990, Graham et al. 1983, Sheppard et al. 2002). The justification for the 

timing and intensity of such treatments and the removal of additional overstory trees will be a function of how 

the forest (fuels) develops. One of the results we hope to obtain from the study is to identify the key elements 

(i.e., regeneration establishment, release of advanced regeneration, cleanings, or weeding to favor species 

composition) that identify the need for a second entry.

Areas Surrounding Growing Stock Level and Other Established Studies

The BHEF has a long history of research. During this time several studies have been established with some being 

currently active and others being inactive. Each study will be evaluated for future research opportunities and 

also as to whether the current forest structure is resilient to the ongoing beetle infestation. In cases where there 

are too many trees, we will conduct a harvest to insure the integrity of the study is maintained. There is a 

replicated study called the Growing Stock Level (GSL); where different even-aged sites have been maintained at 

specific basal areas. Surrounding these sites, plots will be expanded using an even-aged system reflecting the 

density noted in a particular plot. In cases where multiple GSL plots exist at different densities, plot edges will 

reflect the specific plot density and decrease to a median stand density approximately 100 to 150 feet from the 

plot.

Experimental Design 

Tree canopy dynamics (e.g. opening and gap creation along with tree and canopy growth), along with the forest 

floor conditions, determine how a forest regenerates and develops. Moreover, these two forest characteristics 

are the ones predominantly managed to produce desired forest conditions. Therefore, in our study we will use a 

split-split plot design with the whole plot being canopy opening (Treatment C for canopy opening) created by 

different opening sizes and residual tree density during harvest. Forest floor conditions (first split) which 

includes mineral versus organic surface (treatment S for soil) and burned versus unburned (treatment F for 

fire/no fire) (second split). The soil disturbance and burned versus unburned is created by prescribed fire and 

mechanical treatments. The unburned will have two mechanical treatments (mastication and grapple pile/or no 

site prep). A completely crossed design with canopy opening/forest floor conditions would be ideal; however, 

with the advent of beetle activity, logistics in implementing prescribed fire, harvesting limitations and current 

variability in sites achieving this completely crossed design may not be possible; therefore, the split-split plot 

design is being applied. 

Study Implementation

Prescription 

A thorough reconnaissance of the area was completed to identify areas containing high levels of insect activity, 

presence of other species in addition to ponderosa pine, or areas containing or potentially containing old-forest 

conditions. Operational constraints (access, slope angles) were also identified, as well as areas where different 

slash treatments would be limited or preferred. 

In general, increasing species diversity where opportunities exist is preferred. Heterogeneity, groups, and 

clumps of trees are preferred and tree marking is to have minimal impact on the inherent clumps of trees. 

Clumps or groups of trees will either have interlocking crowns, or depending on beetle risk, crowns will not be 

touching, but tree crowns are within 5 to 10 feet of each other. Dominant or co-dominant trees with >40 

percent crown are favored. The largest trees possible will be favored, but on-site conditions will dictate 

exceptions to this preference. Large ponderosa pine, containing a week crown and not contributing to a beetle 

threat, are eligible to become potential snags and subsequent large log recruitment, which will provide wildlife 

habitat. A cleaning and weeding will be conducted post-harvest to favor species composition and spacing that 

promotes heterogeneity as the forest develops. Mortality of overstory will continue in some areas, thus creating 
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-7

snags and large wood recruitment through time and simultaneously releasing understory trees. These areas, 

depending on beetle threat (trees will be removed if currently infected by beetles) may or may not be harvested 

during this entry.

Harvesting

We will use ground based yarding systems, depending on the slope grade and residual tree densities (fig. 1). 

Depending on the preferred post-harvest outcome, research scientists and Black Hills National Forest personnel 

will discuss the preferred choice of machines to maintain the experimental design. 

Slash treatments

Mechanical treatments (approximately 5 percent of the area) will either include grapple piling or mastication. 

However, to sustain a valid study design, a minimum of three sites will be treated per treatment type (block 1). 

Specific designation will be finalized after harvest. Pile burning (jackpot), especially in areas where we will use 

individual tree selection, will allow fires to creep, creating a mosaic of soil burn severities and diverse surface 

conditions.

District crews will conduct prescribed fires. These fires will be very low intensity with short (<4 ft) flame lengths 

and conducted when the lower duff moisture are such to minimize complete consumption of organic layer but 

favor a diversity of soil burn severities. At these moisture contents, forest floor organic material consumption is 

minimal, preserving the microbial communities and nutrients intrinsic to them, yet providing a burned over 

surface. In addition to the prescribed fires, jackpot burns will remove concentrations of slash. 

Data Collection and Analysis

Within Unit Sampling

Because the post-harvest units vary in size and shape, the number of samples will be a function of this 

variability. However, we will place a minimum of three sampling points in units <3 acres; in larger units ( ≥3 

acres) plot density will be approximately one point/acre. Sampling points will be installed along transects 

creating a grid of points. Depending on unit size and shape, the sampling points will be placed either 99 (1.5 

chains) or 198 (3 chains) feet apart. The transect azimuths will be parallel to the unit’s longest edge. The first 

sampling point will be installed 70 feet from the selected edge corner, at a 45 degree offset from the identified 

transect direction. Each transect within the grid will be placed either 99 or 198 feet apart, depending upon unit 

size. Using this sampling technique will cover the entire unit and be unbiased. In addition, this sampling 

technique will allow for spatial analysis of fuels and vegetation as they develop over time. Each sampling point 

will be permanently marked with rebar and the location recorded using a GPS unit. We will select three 

reference trees from where distance and azimuth to plot center will be recorded. Identification characteristics of 

these reference trees, such as species and diameter at breast height (DBH) will be obtained. These trees will 

have identification paint placed on them facing plot center.

Surface Data (300th acre plot) 

After recording the slope and aspect of the plot, we will establish a 6.8 feet radius circular plot (300th acre) at the 

selected sampling point. We will obtain ocular estimates of percentage cover of litter, humus, mineral soil, 

rocks, brown cubical rot, coarse woody debris greater than and less than three inches, stumps, trees bases, 

grass, forbs, tree seedlings by species, shrubs, and mosses/lichens/liverworts. In addition, the number of live 

and dead stems of shrubs (both live and dead) will be tallied by height class, low (<1.5 ft tall or from 0 to 25 

inches in diameter), medium (1.5 to 6.0 ft tall or 0.25 to 1.0 inches in diameter), and tall (≥6.0 feet tall or ≥1.0 

inches in diameter). We will record litter and humus depth at the four cardinal directions at a 3.4-foot radius and 

then average these measurements. 
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-8

Tree Data 

Seedlings less than one inch DBH will be tallied by species on the 300th acre plot. We will tally saplings from one

to five inches DBH on the same plot by status (live or dead), species, height, and DBH to nearest tenth of an inch.

Larger trees will be tallied using a 20 basal area factor prism. Besides the metrics mentioned above that were 

recorded for saplings, uncompacted crown ratio and surface-to-live crown will be recorded for these larger 

trees. In addition, snags will be assigned a code, based upon decay status (codes from Thomas et al. 1979).

Coarse Woody Debris (CWD)

Immediately after harvest, prior to treating harvest activity slash, Brown (1974) will be used to quantify woody 

residue. After treating activity slash through mastication, prescribed burning, grapple piling or no treatment, we 

will use Brown (1974) for quantifying all wood residues.

Six photographs will be taken at each sampling point. Photograph 1 will be taken of the 300th acre plot with 

engineering flags delineating the plot edge, photographs 2 through 5 will be taken from the sampling point 

facing outward at azimuths of 360, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, respectively. Photograph 6 will include the fixed 

and variable tree plots and be taken from the down slope direction of the sampling point along the grid transect.

Data Summaries

The Fire and Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FFE-FVS) (Reinhardt and Crookston 2003) will 

be used to summarize data by individual sampling point to be used for regression analysis. FFE-FVS will also be 

used to summarize data to the unit level for mixed analysis of variance tests. A variety of indices will be 

developed, such as a soil disturbance index and a fuel heterogeneity index.

Plot measurements will occur post-harvest, pre-activity slash treatments, post-activity slash treatments, and five 

years after regeneration harvest. Future measurements will vary, depending upon funding. However, if funding 

is available year 10 would be the next sampling period. Additional sampling will be dependent on change in 

stand development and adaptive management decisions.

Landscape Sampling

Two spatial data sets will be created that include pre- and post-harvest site (aspect, slope, elevation) and 

vegetation characteristics (cover, canopy height, canopy base height). Pre-harvest data will be obtained from 

the RMRS and Black Hills National Forest. Post-harvest data will include harvest unit delineations and 

summarized plot data. If funding opportunity arises, some remote sensing data collection methods such as 

LIDAR could also be obtained.

Statistical Analysis

Implementation

Research Question: What is the difference in implementation strategies (resulting forest structure) in 

relation to the reverse-j uneven-aged management prescriptions (table 1) that were created using FVS?

Null Hypothesis: The resulting forest structures are similar to the forest structures created using the 

reverse J uneven-aged silviculture prescriptions created using FVS. 

Regeneration (5 years after regeneration harvest)

Research Question: Are we able to create heterogeneity in ponderosa pine regeneration as a function of 

canopy opening and forest floor conditions?
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-9

Null hypothesis 1: Unsuccessful at creating heterogeneity in regeneration of ponderosa pine.

Null hypothesis 2: Unsuccessful at regenerating and establishing quaking aspen where present in different 

canopy openings.

Null hypothesis 3 (10 years after regeneration harvest): Growth and survival of established seedlings will 

not vary as a function of treatment combination. 

Statistical analysis: Analysis of Variance using canopy opening, mineral/organic, burned/unburned to 

predicting early-seral/total seedlings per acre 

Fuel Dynamics

Landscape (1 year after all treatments are implemented) 

Short-term Research Question: Does landscape heterogeneity increase wildfire resilience concerning fire 

behavior and effects (although we cannot answer this by introducing a wildfire, a modeling approach will 

be used)?

Null Hypothesis 4: The heterogeneity of within and between units did not alter fire behavior (fire type, fire 

spread, and flame length). This will be evaluated using FARSITE and FlamMap and new developed fire 

behavior fire models (Finney 1998, 2006). Outcomes will be compared to the FARSITE and FlamMap 

outcomes associated with similar analyses conducted for the Priest River Experimental Forest study (Jain 

et al. 2008).

Within Unit

Short-term Research Question: By increasing the variability in the implementation of harvest and activity 

slash treatments do we create heterogeneity in surface fuels both in the short- (1-5 years) and long-term 

(> 5 years) within a given unit?

Null hypothesis 5 (5 years after regeneration harvest): Variation in soil disturbance (mineral soil or organic 

surface, charred mineral soil, charred organic surface) and canopy opening will not create variation in 

surface fuels (if funding opportunity arises fuel moisture will be added to data collection beginning year 5).

Statistical analysis: Two approaches - 1) create spatial data sets from sampling point grid and compare 

variation in data sets across the different canopy opening/forest floor conditions ; 2) Develop a fuel 

heterogeneity index for each sampling point and predict this index as a function of canopy opening and 

soil disturbance treatments.

Insects

Research Question: Did we succeed in increasing the abundance of aspen and other hardwoods to 

increase species diversity?

Null hypothesis 6-9 (long-term 5 years to decades):

• 6 - Treatments do not favor the growth and development of hardwoods; rather they favor faster 

growth in ponderosa pine. 

• 7 - Mortality rates are above 50% in hardwoods from competition. 

• 8 - Trees will dominate site and shrubs and grasses will not be favored (> 50% cover). 
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-10

• 9 - The level of insect infestation will be correlated with tree density regardless of group size. 

Statistical analysis: Two approaches - 1) Indirect approach is to evaluate the changes in species 

composition, growth over time using a repeated measures statistical analysis or other similar analysis with 

treatments; 2) Direct approach is to insect occurrence as a function of multiple spatial scales beginning 

with tree groups followed by original harvest unit, followed by entire study area as the experimental units 

using either mixed analysis or classification and regression trees.

Other research associated with this study: There are several studies being developed in collaboration with this 

one, which will be added as individual study plans. We will address and evaluate future hypotheses over time as 

a function of funding availability until the Principal Investigators retire or leave. All data will be archived for 

future research opportunities.

Safety

Job hazard analysis will be developed and followed throughout the entire process from sale preparation to 

administration to study implementation and data collection. Black Hills National Forest staff will be in charge of 

safety during timber sale preparation, harvesting and conducting post-harvest treatments. Tail gate sessions will 

be conducted at the beginning of research each project and when new people are involved in the different 

aspects of the study. All research and Forest teams will carry and use an operating and functional Forest Service 

radio. 

References

Adams, Mary Beth; Loughry, Linda; Plaugher, Linda. Compilers. 2004. Experimental forests and ranges of the 

USDA Forest Service. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-321. Newtown Square, PA: USDA Forest Service. 178 p.

Brown, J. K. 1974. Handbook for inventorying downed woody material. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-16. Ogden, UT: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

Finney, Mark A. 1998. FARSITE: Fire Area Simulator-model development and evaluation. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-4. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 47

Finney, Mark A. 2006. An overview of FlamMap fire modeling capabilities. In: Andrews, Patricia L.; Butler, Bret 

W., comp. Fuels management---How to measure success: Conference proceedings; Portland, OR . Proc. RMRS-P41. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 213-220. 

Graham, R. T. 1990. Importance of integrating harvesting, site preparation, and regeneration: the silvicultural 

system. In. Forestry on the frontier: proceedings of the 1989 Society of American Foresters National Convention; 

1989 September 24-27; Spokane, WA.Washington, D.C.: Society of American Foresters: 217-218. 

Graham, Russell T.; Jain, Theresa B. 2005. Application of free selection in mixed forests of the inland 

northwestern United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 209(1-2): 131-145.

Graham, R. T.; Smith, R. A. 1983. Techniques for implementing the individual tree selection method in the grand 

fir-cedar-hemlock ecosystems of northern Idaho. Res. Note INT-332 Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 4 p.

Graham, Russell T.; Jain, Theresa B.; Sandquist, Jonathan. 2007. Free selection: a silvicultural option. In: Powers, 

Robert, ed. Restoring fire-adapted forested ecosystems. 2005 National Silviculture Workshop; 2005 June 6-10; 

Lake Tahoe, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-203. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Nautilus Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-11

Pacific Southwest Research Station: 121-156.

Jain, Theresa B.; Graham, Russell T. 2005. Restoring dry and moist forests of the inland northwestern U.S. In: 

Stanturf, John A.; Madsen, Palle, eds. Restoration of boreal and temperate forests; Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press: 

463-480.

Jain, Theresa B.; Graham, Russell T.; Morgan, Penelope. 2004. Western white pine growth relative to forest 

openings. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 34: 2187-2197.

Jain, Theresa B.; Graham, Russell T.; Sandquist, Jonathan; Butler, Matthew; Brockus, Karen; Frigard, Daniel; 

Cobb, David; Sup-Han, Han; Halbrook, Jeff; Denner, Robert; Evans, Jeffery. 2008. Restoration of northern Rocky 

Mountain moist forests: integrating fuel treatments from the site to the landscape. In: Deal, R. L., ed. Integrated 

restoration of forested ecosystems to achieve multi-resource benefits: proceedings of the 2007 National 

Silviculture Workshop; 2007 May 7-11; Kitchkin, AK. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-733. Portland, OR: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 1-26.

Jain, Theresa B.; Graham, Russell T.; Morgan, Penelope. 2002. Western white pine development in relation to 

biophysical characteristics across different spatial sales in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin in northern Idaho, U.S.A. 

Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 32: 1109-1125.

Nyland, R. D. 2002. Silviculture: concepts and applications: 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. 633 p.

Reinhardt, Elizabeth; Crookston, Nicholas L. Technical Editors. 2003. The fire and fuels extension to the forest 

vegetation simulator. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-116. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 209 p.

Shepperd, Wayne D.; Battaglia, Michael A. 2002. Ecology, silviculture, and management of Black Hills ponderosa 

pine. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-97. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Research Station. 112 p.

Thomas, J. W.; Anderson, R. G.; Maser, C.; Bull, E. L. 1979. Snags. In: Thomas, J. W., ed. Wildlife habitats in 

managed forests, the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington; Agric. Handb. 553. Washington, DC: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 60-77.
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Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-12

Table 1. Pre- and Post-harvest for reverse J uneven-aged silviculture system which was developed using Forest Vegetation Simulator. These distributions 

will be used to compare the irregular selection results to the FVS results. Table is organized by stand number.

Stand Size Current PIPO Basal area (ft2) removal by dbh class Trees/ac removal by dbh class

Presence of other 

species Post Trt Struc Stage

ID Acres

basal 

area Trees/ac >17.5

15-

17.5

13-

15

11-

13

9-

11

7-

9

5-

7 >17.5

15-

17.5

13-

15

11-

13

9-

11 7-9 5-7 birch aspen spruce Percent

(>1" dbh) 1 2 3 4 5

1 25 142 1389 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 179 28 10 60 2 0

2 13 110 249 0 0 0 0 30 15 0 0 0 0 0 34 38 0 yes 27 10 5 54 4

3 98 104 279 0 0 0 0 15 15 0 0 0 0 28 36 25 11 15 43 6

4 47 102 209 0 0 0 0 25 5 4 0 0 0 0 49 18 22 26 12 13 42 7

5 35 101 138 0 17 5 0 5 3 3 0 10 15 0 10 7 12 17 12 10 54 7

6 18 100 215 5 0 4 8 3 2 0 4 10 3 yes 15 10 22 41 12

7 59 104 271 0 0 0 0 10 25 5 0 0 0 0 21 73 30 28 10 25 37 0

9 35 123 622 0 0 0 0 20 15 5 0 0 0 0 37 43 27 21 10 35 34 0

10 39 162 808 0 0 0 0 32 20 44 0 0 0 0 62 64 234 40 10 25 25 0

12 28 57 178 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes 31 10 9 40 10

13 145 Skippy's corner (248 trees/ac) 3 3 3 9 yes yes yes 50 10 10 15 15

14 80 48 303 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes yes 41 10 14 32 3

15 138 107 155 0 0 3 18 22 0 0 0 0 3 24 40 0 0 28 10 4 53 5

16 99 107 227 5 0 0 0 21 19 0 3 0 0 0 41 57 0 30 10 13 32 15

17 23 106 246 0 0 10 0 7 16 10 0 0 9 0 14 43 34 yes yes 31 10 22 30 7

18 171 158 300 9 4 1 16 33 25 3 5 3 1 22 61 71 16 yes 22 10 16 42 10

20 65 114 688 0 0 12 0 23 0 0 0 0 11 0 37 0 0 yes 17 6 21 51 5

21 133 105 223 0 0 0 6 21 7 4 0 0 0 8 41 20 18 25 10 13 50 2

22/75 91 177 553 0 0 0 33 26 33 9 0 0 0 42 51 94 45 23 10 20 43 4

23 31 156 384 0 0 0 0 34 39 17 0 0 0 0 68 105 72 25 10 22 43 0

24 53 164 601 0 0 0 0 6 40 44 0 0 0 0 12 119 207 yes 22 36 30 12 0

25 21 114 495 0 0 0 4 10 16 12 0 0 0 5 19 49 68 yes 18 10 34 38 0

26 30 236 1088 0 0 0 0 12 60 70 0 0 0 0 23 176 359 7 10 47 36 0

27 54 112 174 0 0 14 2 14 10 3 0 0 14 3 25 28 18 yes 30 8 10 36 16
Nautilus Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-13

Table 1 cont.

Stand Size Current PIPO Basal area (ft2) removal by dbh class Trees/ac removal by dbh class

Presence of other 

species

Post Treatment

Structure Stage

ID Acres

basal 

area Trees/ac >17.5

15-

17.5

13-

15

11-

13

9-

11

7-

9

5-

7 >17.5

15-

17.5

13-

15

11-

13

9-

11 7-9 5-7 birch aspen spruce Percent

1 2 3 4 5

28 23 43 88 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes 51 5 10 32 2

29 19 112 231 0 0 0 0 16 24 3 0 0 0 0 31 76 13 26 5 13 44 12

30 172 158 390 0 0 0 0 40 29 22 0 0 0 0 70 78 101 yes 11 2 40 47 0

31 11 115 361 0 0 0 0 22 14 6 0 0 0 0 41 44 41 yes 27 5 16 44 8

32 29 103 174 0 0 0 0 0 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 29 18 yes yes 38 4 20 34 4

33 133 102 254 0 0 0 0 10 17 11 0 0 0 0 19 50 53 36 5 15 42 2

34 21 28 98 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes 63 5 18 12 2

35 34 112 215 0 0 0 0 33 8 2 0 0 0 0 64 24 11 yes 27 0 10 58 0

36 63 100 148 0 0 2 9 16 4 2 0 0 2 12 30 12 10 yes 40 5 3 42 10

37 29 157 292 0 0 0 0 85 6 0 0 0 0 0 162 12 0 30 5 5 60 0

38A 31 113 198 4 2 yes yes yes 32 5 7 40 16

38B 10 113 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes yes yes 79 5 10 3 3

39 135 156 446 0 0 0 0 21 48 24 0 0 0 0 104 140 39 34 5 22 36 3

40 83 150 418 0 0 0 0 0 51 32 0 0 0 0 0 130 142 yes yes 29 5 26 40 0

41 146 102 175 0 0 0 0 2 26 9 0 0 0 0 4 55 16 yes yes 31 5 12 45 7

42 117 112 237 0 0 0 10 16 13 2 0 0 0 13 30 41 12 yes 30 5 13 52 0

43 63 119 290 0 0 0 6 20 13 0 0 0 0 8 38 39 0 yes yes 27 5 15 50 3

45 31 118 203 0 0 0 0 22 8 6 0 0 0 0 43 23 18 yes yes 29 5 16 50 0

46 10 101 239 0 0 0 1 12 13 6 0 0 0 2 24 42 36 yes 29 5 16 50 0

48 2 43 65 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes 53 5 2 40 0

49 3 253 4352 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 0 58 0 0

50 69 102 329 0 0 0 0 0 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 27 41 21 0 43 36 0

51 47 108 279 0 0 0 0 14 12 13 0 0 0 0 27 35 84 34 0 10 53 3

52 87 162 414 0 0 0 0 33 48 7 0 0 0 0 63 149 32 33 0 21 46 0

53 21 157 343 0 0 4 10 26 25 19 0 0 4 13 50 73 87 yes 32 0 13 55 0

Table 1 cont.

Stand Size Current PIPO Basal area (ft2) removal by dbh class Trees/ac removal by dbh class Presence of other Post Trt Struc Stage
Nautilus Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-14

species

ID Acres

basal 

area Trees/ac >17.5

15-

17.5

13-

15

11-

13

9-

11

7-

9

5-

7 >17.5

15-

17.5

13-

15

11-

13

9-

11 7-9 5-7 birch aspen spruce

Percent

1 2 3 4 5

54 36 165 444 0 0 20 0 24 32 19 0 0 20 0 48 96 103 40 0 18 30 12

55 23 168 354 0 0 0 14 46 28 9 0 0 0 18 85 84 39 31 0 16 53 0

56 30 184 640 0 0 0 5 5 76 25 0 0 0 7 10 228 133 32 0 19 49 0

57 42 103 305 0 0 0 0 18 7 5 0 0 0 0 34 17 24 yes 31 0 7 50 12

58 42 121 244 0 0 0 3 26 19 2 0 0 0 4 53 52 13 32 0 10 58 0

59 2 279 782 0 9 0 9 76 82 0 0 6 0 13 134 235 0 32 0 12 35 21

60 36 42 126 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51 10 39 0 0

61 48 37 128 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 54 10 36 0 0

62 3 205 1013 0 0 0 0 0 57 57 0 0 0 0 0 169 280 30 0 70 0 0

65 5 61 206 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes 42 0 58 0 0

66 21 174 594 0 0 0 0 0 34 66 0 0 0 0 0 109 317 30 0 24 46 0

68 24 29 297 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 0 18 12 0

69 15 44 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes yes 87 10 3 0 0

73 14 28 155 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 yes yes 74 5 9 4 8
Nautilus Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix D –Black Hills Experimental Forest Study Plan D-15